Leveraging Leadership: 2017 Dragon Defense

A Carroll
defense that surrendered an average of just 18.8 points per game will have some
rebuilding to do after graduating nine all-district performers, including an
astounding eight first-teamers, from its 2016 campaign.

Fortunately
for the Dragons and defensive coordinator Tim Wasson, Carroll has plenty left
in the cupboard, including three additional all-district players.

Senior
linebackers Matty Werner (89 tackles, two forced fumbles) and Ryan Thompson (23
tackles) were second-team all-district choices, while defensive lineman Jacob
Doddridge is coming off a season in which he posted 54 tackles and three sacks.
The latter is weighing collegiate options this fall and could very well end up
with an Ivy League program.

Doddridge,
as well as Werner and Thompson, have embraced their roles as senior leaders and
defensive captains on the team. As such, they are relishing the opportunity to
help bring along many of Carroll’s first-time varsity players of which there
are many. The 2017 squad includes four sophomores amongst their starting
roster. Starting as a underclassman at Carroll is somewhat of an accomplishment
in its own right —something these three leaders know well as they share their
experiences with their younger teammates.

“The guys
before me did a great job of helping me out with that,” Doddridge said. “That’s
something we’re really trying to do, because we have a lot of young guys and
they don’t necessarily know the expectations we have, or in some cases, they
just don’t even really understand what the coaches are trying to tell them. So
we’re really working on that and maintaining our focus during practice.”

Three-year
starter Thompson, meanwhile, is another leader of the defense and has been
honored with donning the “Backers” towel that is passed down to a linebacker
each season.

“It’s
something we do within the position,” he said. “You look at it, and it has guys
going way back. Last year, it was Jacob Copeland and after the year the players
just talk and decide who is going to get it the next season.”

Sophomore
defensive back RJ Mickens — the son of former NFL player Ray Mickens — took
advantage of an increase in playing time due to an injury to Oklahoma signee
Robert Barnes last season and parlayed the chance into first-team all-district
honors after recording three interceptions.

The
sophomore is considered a blue-chip recruit in his class and gives Carroll one
of the premier secondary players in the area.

Belnap and
Hayes are confident in how the secondary has come together throughout spring
and fall camp, and that the position — and defense as a whole — has placed an
added emphasis on creating turnovers this season.

“We didn’t
do as much of that last year as we would have liked to and it could have made a
big difference,” Hayes said.

“We want to
be a defense that gets to the ball,” Belnap added. “The defenses that get to
the ball and make plays win, so that’s the plan.”

As noted,
the Dragons lost a ton of talent from their 2016 defense resulting in the squad
starting an unprecedented number of sophomores in a season opener.

Given the
defensive effort against a physical and formidable opponent, Hal Wasson and the
Dragons are understandably excited about the prospects of the unit.

“In our
scrimmage against Arlington, I was really impressed with the way they ran
around to the ball and played with a chipiness and attitude,” he said.

That
continued in the opener against Broken Arrow where Carroll’s defense stayed
true to its mantra of “stop the run” and limited its opponent to 190 total
yards, including just 31 rushing on 27 attempts.

“Our
experienced guys really came through for us,” Hal Wasson said. “Jacob, Ryan and
Matt really toed the line for us and it was a good night for the defense. They
were really hungry.”

Limiting a
power football team bodes well for Carroll’s prospects in district, as the
Dragons will have to contend with the likes of standout running backs and
offensive lines at Trinity (Courage Keihn) and Marcus (Justin Dinka), among
others.

“There are
some great players in our district, but we’re going to be ready for them,”
Thompson said.

“The Trinity
game is the one I am looking forward to most,” Doddridge added. “They’re a
great program and that’s the week when the coaches are really going crazy and
everyone is fired up.”

But not
surprisingly, for secondary member Crockett, it’s the regular-season finale
against Hebron that he has circled.

“They have
incredible receivers over there and a great quarterback in Clayton Tune,” he
said. “Guys like Jaren Mitchell and Trejan Bridges and a transfer from Coppell
named David Leonte … I know a lot of those guys from playing growing up and I
can’t wait for us to get out there and match up with them.”

Despite the
abundance of talent in 5-6A and on Carroll’s non-district schedule, another
goal for the unit according to Thompson is limiting opponents to 21 points or
fewer.

The Dragons
checked that off in their opener against Broken Arrow after doing so eight
times in 12 games a year ago.

Should that
trend continue, and as the Dragons grow up and gain camaraderie and experience,
they should only improve.

Wasson
believes that, combined with a consistent offense, his defense will help keep
Carroll on the path to success.

“I’ve said
it before, but I really like this group,” he said. “We have strong leaders and
I’m excited about the personality of our guys and the team and the blueprint
that is being laid out.”

That
foundation is already beginning to show and Doddridge is hopeful that by the
time the postseason rolls around, Carroll will not only be competing for the
18th consecutive season, but will be primed for a deeper playoff run.

“We have a
very challenging schedule, so we should definitely be prepared,” he said. “The first
goal for us as seniors is to get passed the second round (of the playoffs).
That’s what it’s all about. Everyone talks about how crazy it is when you get
deep in the playoffs and Carroll has a tradition of doing that.”